The American Dream

By Jashim Uddin

A brave ambitious Bangladeshi youth traverses half of the globe to New York to turn his fortune. After twelve years of toil all that he gets is affluence but not the most coveted Green Card.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514418819

Jashim Uddin

M. Jashim Uddin was born in a respectable family in a bordering suburb village named Horipur in Comilla District on June 15 in 1969. He is the talented and brilliant son of Late Master M.A. Bari and Kazi Ruchiya Khaton. His grandfather, Late Syed Akram Ali was a prominent munificent. He has achieved the highest degree in Public Administration from the Dhaka University. In his student life, he was a brilliant student leader and is currently an active politician and political analyst. Since 1990, he settled permanently in the United States. Since his childhood besides his politics, this literary and cultural minded writer focuses on literary studies. He was hailed a lot through his writings of short stories, plays, novels, poetry and contemporary political analytical features, published on newspapers, journals and magazines, in home and abroad. Currently, almost a dozen of his novels manuscript is ready to be published. He portrays the situation of oppressed people, motherland and current politics. Residing in an opposite edge of the Globe, he has been struggling for the establishment of Bengali literature in the sphere of world literature. Literary studies and politics are complement with each other. Economy, Sociology and politics are tied with the same route. All these dogmas talks for people and people’s welfare. When readers perceive the practical scenario of the oppressed people going through a writing, will be a successful writing in proper.

Book preview

One

A rickshaw was stopped at the gate of Mohshin Hall of Dhaka University. Paying the fare, Sumon got off the rickshaw and stepped towards the collapsible gate of the hall. The gatekeeper, Moslem, greeted Sumon and asked, which room would you like to go sir? Room number 511, Sumon replied. Moslem smilingly said I got it; you want to meet journalist Dweep Sir. Please write your name on the register book and wait for a while in the guest room. By this time I will inform Dweep Sir, he added. Addressing Sumon, the gateman again said ‘I forgot to ask you where you are from.’

Sumon chuckled and said –

* You just tell Dweep Bhai that Sumon from Bikrampur has come to meet him.

Sumon started reading newspaper immediately after the gatekeeper had left the place. Dweep came to meet Sumon in a shorter while and said –

* What’s up Sumon! When have you come?

Sumon stood up leaving the newspaper –

* Salamualaykum (greetings), Dweep Bhai.

Both of them shook their hands; Dweep said, are you alright?

* What’s the matter? You have come here all of a sudden. Is everyone fine at home?

Sumon replied –

Everyone is fine. Brother, I sat for BA examination twice but could not pass. So, I am taking preparation for the third time. I thought that I along with you would buy some notes and guide books from Nilkhet.

After hearing him, Dweep said –

* Oh listen. There is a good news.

I achieved a PHD scholarship last week. Journalism Department of Dhaka University offered it to me. And it would be funded by World Bank.

Sumon astonishingly asked –

* Which country will you go for study?

Dweep replied –

* Columbia University at New York.

* When will you fly to USA?

* Next Wednesday, Dweep added.

Sumon enquired more –

* Won’t you go home for a farewell?

Addressing Sumon, Dweep said –

I will go home tomorrow. Let’s go to Nilkhet now to buy your notes and guide books.

Seeing Dweep and Sumon together the gatekeeper greeted them again cordially. They came out of the hall and headed towards Nilkhet.

Dweep bought necessary note and guide books for Sumon from Nilkhet. Both of them took their lunch together at Chittagong Hotel, adjacent to Dhaka College. Dweep helped Sumon get a bus and took leave. Afterwards, Dweep went to the newspaper office, his own workplace.

Two

Kazir Pagla is a beautiful village covered with green trees. The village is located by the side of Sadar road. Dweep, hanging a bag on his shoulder, was returning from office. Meanwhile, he met Gani Mia, a farmer and also a neighbour of Dweep. Gani was carrying plough and yoke on his shoulder. Two bullocks were following their Gani Mia. There was also a sack on his head. When he came closer Dweep said –

* Salamualaykum Gani uncle. Why are you going home back so early today?

What will I say nephew –

* All the cultivable paddy lands are being captured by housing companies. They have already hanged their signboard on the lands. Moreover, they have fenced most of the lands with barbed wire. They will not allow us to cultivate the lands anymore. They will build a town here. Several thousands of police personnel are patrolling over there.

Dweep got astonished hearing all these –

* What are you saying uncle? What will you eat then?

* There is nothing to say, son. There is no choice left for us but to die.

Taking the plow from Gani Mia’s shoulder to his own shoulder Dweep said –

* I will take you to the land, let’s go to the land and see the scenario.

Dweep along with Gani Mia stood under a huge signboard titled Dhansiri Model Town. Many other cohort farmers also joined there. Police personnel were seen in an alert position in front of the housing project. The farmers were also ready with cutlass, stick, oar, plow, yoke, etc. Indeed, the farmers were lamenting. The agitated farmers demanded to vacate their cultivable lands.

At one stage, Police charged batons on the poor farmers. On the other hand, the cadre group of the housing company opened fire aiming at the farmers. Gani Mia received bullet injury on his left arm. Dweep put off his shirt immediately and used it as bandage on Gani’s injury. Several other farmers were injured as well during the clash between police and farmers.

* Don’t worry. I am a journalist. I will report everything after returning to Dhaka. Every newspaper will publish the report regarding the illegal land grabbing of the housing companies. Definitely the Premier of the country and her government will take immediate measures in this regard.

Gani Mia put his hand on Deep’s shoulder and said –

* Son, we are poor farmers. If they grab our lands this way what will we eat then? Dweep tried to console him.

Three

A winter morning… The sun has not peeped yet. The whole village was covered with smoky fog. The things at a little distance could hardly be seen. Dweep came outside to enjoy the winter morning. The roads of Kazir Pagla were also covered with dew. Dweep sat on the bank of a pond wearing a chuddar and warm winter hat. A date-juice collector was collecting juice from a date-tree. The scenario drew his attention. He has not seen such scenario since long. The mosque and its minaret on the other side of the pond were bleary due to heavy fog. Dweep heard the Azaan of Fazr while he was coming out of his home. However, the devotees were seen coming out of the mosque one by one, after performing their Salah. Razzak Dealer and his younger brother Rahmat Ali were also there among other devotees. They started walking by the side of the pond to reach their house. Razzak Dealer noticed that the formal lounge of his